Men’s and Women’s Tennis sweep matches in Grand Rapids

The Grand Valley State men’s and women’s tennis teams swept their match-ups against Illinois-Springfield and Walsh, winning by a combined margin of 21-3. To see a gallery of photos from the event, visit https://lanthorn.com

Lacrosse picked to finish first in GLIAC in coaches poll

The Grand Valley State women’s lacrosse team has been picked as the No. 1 team in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Preseason Poll, per the conference headquarters.  Last season, the Lakers posted a 14-4 record after falling in overtime of the GLIAC finals to Indianapolis, 18-17.  Head coach Mackenzie Lawler enters her second year at the helm of the program alongside assistant coach Nora Boerger.

GVSU reclaims seven starters, including the highest-returning scorer, Abbi O’Neal, and former All-GLIAC recipients Elizabeth Yeomans and Sarah Staagard.

The Lakers were picked as the No. 20 ranked team in the IWLCA Preseason Poll, released on Jan. 27.  For the second consecutive season, GVSU kicks off the 2020 season at Lake Erie Sunday, Feb. 23.  Last season, the Lakers dominated the then-ranked No. 19 Storm, 14-4.

Two Laker softball players named to Player of the Year watchlist

Two members of the Grand Valley State softball team have been named to the 2020 Schutt Sports/NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association) Player of the Year watchlist. Junior Nikoma Holmen and sophomore Lydia Goble were two of the 50 players and pitchers named in Thursday’s (Feb. 13) release by the NFCA. Holmen is a returning NFCA All-American while Goble was a D2CCA honorable mention All-American as a freshman.

Holmen and Goble will anchor a Laker lineup that is expected to produce big numbers in 2020, entering the season ranked No. 3 in the nation and being selected as the unanimous choice to win the GLIAC in the preseason coaches’ poll. Due to poor field conditions, the Lakers’ previously scheduled season opening weekend was canceled, so the squad begins play next Friday (Feb. 21) in the Lewis Dome Tournament.

VARSITY SCHEDULE

Men’s Basketball: Thursday, Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m., @ Northern Michigan

Saturday, Feb. 22, 3 p.m., @ Michigan Tech

Women’s Basketball: Thursday, Feb 20, 7:30 p.m., @ Northern Michigan

Saturday, Feb. 22, 1 p.m., @ Michigan Tech

Baseball: Saturday, Feb. 22, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., doubleheader vs Ohio Dominican @ Harrogate, TN.

Sunday, Feb. 23, 11 a.m., Ohio Dominican@ Harrogate, TN.

Softball: Friday-Saturday, Feb. 21-22, Lewis Dome Tournament @ Rosemont, IL.

Men’s and Women’s Track & Field: Friday, Feb. 21, 2:45 p.m., GVSU Tune-Up @ Kelly Family Sports Center

Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving: Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 19-22, TBA, @ Saginaw